DIXFIELD — The proposed 2013-14 operating budget of $36.18 million for RSU 10 went back to the drawing board by an extremely thin margin Tuesday.

With all towns but Byron reporting, the unofficial vote was 1,536 to 1,564.

Superintendent Tom Ward said Wednesday he was disappointed but understood how some residents feel.

“With the Mountain Valley region in upheaval because of the mill, these are real concerns,” he said.

The RSU 10 board will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 17, at the Central Office in Dixfield to set another districtwide, town-meeting-style session. A few days later, another referendum will be held.

Ward said the board has 45 days from Tuesday’s vote to hold another districtwide vote.

Voting results were: Sumner, 20-34; Hartford, 32-33; Buckfield, 102-111; Canton, 97-41; Carthage, 10-8; Dixfield, 252-129; Peru, 166-142; Mexico, 226-255; Roxbury, 16-31; Rumford, 603-778; and Hanover, 12-2.

Voters also overwhelmingly approved continuing the two-part budget process for another three years.

Ward said he hoped that when the state Legislature approves a biennial budget, more money will be available for schools and the burden for the district’s $440,000 in teacher retirement will be shifted back to the state.

He said he’d rather not have the middle school sports programs changed into clubs, which could happen if the state does not continue to pay for teacher retirement.